Life Starts All Over Again When it Gets Crisp in the Fall

LEAF SEASON IN THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS

My amazing parents came back to visit Asheville in the middle of October, which is typically the peak of what everyone in the mountains call leaf season. Which, obviously, is that magical time when the leaves all change into shades of red, yellow and orange. This is my first fall in the mountains, and I was so excited! It apparently wasn’t the brightest fall ever, but we still basked in the beauty of my beloved Blue Ridge Mountains.

While they visited we made three trips on The Parkway. My dad and I set out the first full night they were here to do Devil’s Courthouse again but at sunset, and to take him to do Frying Pan Fire Tower. However, we only had one overlook with any sort of view because the fog very quickly came in and engulfed us for all but the first 10 minutes of our time on The Parkway.

The second day on the parkway was a family outing. All three of us went out and we drove south from Asheville to look at the yellow, orange and red leaves.

After being on The Parkway we decided to take a little different way down, taking the exit past Black Balsam toward Canton, and as we drove down that road we found three waterfalls, just hanging out waiting for us to explore them!

My mom and I spotted this waterfall from the car window, so my dad turned around and he and I hiked down to the bottom of it. It was only about 1/4 of a mile from the road to the base.

The third day we drove almost to the Tennessee border to get to Cherokee and hop on The Parkway from there. So, we started our explorations off with a little hike down to Soco Falls.

That look on my dad’s face is the result of him almost sliding down the edge of that ledge! ha!

There’s a rope in the middle of the forest that runs over the top of another section of falls, don’t do what I did… It leads to nothing. Ha!

Looking towards Great Smoky Mountains National Park

We stopped off at Waterrock Knob to check out the view and my dad and I did this little hike to get in a couple of hiking miles together and see a gorgeous view.

Even not in peak leaf season, it was stunning up there! I am so glad that my parents were able to come and experience the mountains covered in warm colors. My first leaf season was a huge success!

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